Previous Organs at St Wystan's

St Wystan's formerly possessed a fine three-manual organ, built by Peter Conacher of Huddersfield about the middle of the nineteenth century and situated in the Fynderne Chapel at the east end of the south aisle.   By 1950 this instrument was in need of general restoration.

Rather than put this in hand, the parish was persuaded to install the latest pipeless electronic organ made by the then leading company, John Compton of Acton, London.   Inevitably this instrument deteriorated as its electro-mechanical components wore out.   The Compton company was taken over and spare parts became unobtainable.   By 1972, the organ had become unplayable and offered little as the basis for rebuilding.

A local organ enthusiast came to the rescue.   Harold Cantrill of Castle Donington installed (and for many years maintained) an organ by Taylor of Leicester, removed from a redundant Methodist church in Burton on Trent.   It was installed in the outer vestry in the north-west corner of the church, and linked to the two-manual console of the Compton organ retained at the east end of the nave.   Although neither ideal nor voiced for St Wystan's, it was sympathetically adapted to fit into its new surroundings and served the parish well for several years.

However, this organ in its turn became increasingly difficult to maintain and play.   In 1988 the Parochial Church Council commissioned a report from Eric Pask of St Albans, who recommended replacement or radical rebuilding.   This inaugurated a long process of fund-raising.   With Paul Hale of Southwell employed as consultant, the P.C.C. evaluated various specifications from organ builders, and different potential locations within the church.   In October 1996, a contract was signed with Peter Collins of Melton Mowbray.   In the meantime, the parish raised £100,000 through its Heritage Appeal and allocated £60,000 to the new organ.   This sum was subsequently significantly increased by generous donations, interest earned and fundraising.   The dedication of the Peter Collins organ and the opening recital by Paul Hale represented ten years of hard work and effort by the church, members of the congregation, advisors and friends from far and wide, and by the organ builder and his staff.

The Peter Collins Organ

The present 21-stop organ, built in 1998 by Peter Collins, stands against the east wall of the south transept.   Several locations were considered; the one chosen sacrificed the light from the window behind, but allowed a good relationship between the sanctuary, choir and instrument, without disturbing the existing traditional layout.   The oak case was inspired by the oldest known in Britain, the sixteenth-century case at Old Radnor in Wales.   With its flowing and fretted pipeshades, it comes from the pen of Nicholas Plumley after an idea by Peter Collins.   The stop-list includes a Great Organ Bourdon, rare in an organ of this size, a Cornet Séparé on the Swell and a half-length wooden Trombone.   The wooden Pedal Violone is a survivor from the previous Taylor organ.

The Peter Collins Organ

Organ Specification
Great Organ			Swell Organ
Bourdon	16		Gedact	8
Open Diapaison	8		Viol da Gamba	8
Stopped Diapaison	8		Voix Celeste	8
Principal	4		Principal	4
Open Flute	4		Nasard	2 2/3
Fifteenth	2		Doublette	2
Mixture	IV		Tierce	1 3/5
Trumpet	8		Mixture	III
			Basson Hautbois	8
Tremulant			Tremulant
Pedal Organ			Couplers
Violone	16		Swell to Great
Subbass	16		Swell to Pedal
Principal	8		Great to Pedal
Bass Flute	8		Setter / Lock
(Transmission)			General Cancel
Octave	4
(Transmission)
Trombone	16
6 pistons to SW, GT and PD - 6 Generals each at 8 levels